What is galengale?

Answer 1

Galengale is a rhizome similar to Ginger root and used the same as ginger, fresh, dried, or powdered. The galangals are fascinating ginger-like spices used in South East Asia. Greater galangalis native to Java. It is widely used in Indonesia and Malaysia as a food flavouring and spice. Lesser galangal is native to China, growing mainly on the southeast coast. It is also grown in India and the rest of South East Asia. Although barely used in Europe today, both galangals were formerly imported in great quantity, as medicine and spice. Galangal was known to the ancient Indians, and has been in the West since the Middle Ages. Its stimulant and tonic properties are recognized by the Arabs who ginger up their horses with it, and by the Tartars, who take it in tea. In the East, it is taken powdered as a snuff, and is used in perfumery and in brewing. Taken from encyclopedia of spices.